New screening tool for lung cancer now offered at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital

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Published 11:00 pm, Tuesday, July 8, 2014

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Dr. O’Connor reads a lung scan.

Dr. O’Connor reads a lung scan.

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New screening tool for lung cancer now offered at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital

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The new Lung Cancer Screening Program at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital helps individuals who are at high risk for lung cancer detect lung nodules and potential lung cancer at an early stage when the disease is more treatable and curable.

Lung cancer typically does not cause symptoms in its early stages. A persistent cough, coughing up blood, wheezing, shortness of breath, recurrent pneumonia, chest pain, hoarseness, weight loss, and bloody or rust-colored sputum, or mucus, may be signs of lung cancer.

Since lung cancer is difficult to detect in its earliest stages, it’s not often discovered until it has spread to other tissues or organs. The good news is the United States Preventive Services Task Force recently issued its final recommendation approving low-dose computed tomography (CT) lung screenings for those at high risk of developing lung cancer. A low-dose CT is a test that takes detailed pictures inside of the lungs. The amount of radiation used is lower than standard chest CT scans.

“The new screening test for lung cancer has shown to be useful in the early detection of lung cancer, leading to a decrease of deaths,” said Terence O’Connor, M.D., medical director of radiology at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital.

Up to 90 percent of all lung cancers are thought to result from smoking. In addition to cigarette smoking, cigar smoking increases risk. Non-smokers who are frequently exposed to secondhand smoke also face an increased risk. Other risk factors include: exposure to asbestos, radon, or ionizing radiation and lung scarring from chronic infections.

Screenings at Memorial Hermann Katy are now being offered to current or former smokers 55 years of age or older who have smoked the equivalent of one pack of cigarettes a day, and individuals who have any of the risk factors mentioned above.